Re: Murphy switching to center in Warriors' new offense <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Murphy switching to center in Warriors' new offenseOAKLAND, Calif. -- Troy Murphy figures he's a perfect fit to shift to center in new coach Don Nelson's up-tempo offense. Adonal Foyle is determined to drop a few pounds and prove he deserves ample playing time, too.The 6-foot-11 Murphy will move from power forward to the middle for the Golden State Warriors this season, and Nelson plans to use Foyle -- who two years ago signed a cushy new six-year deal worth nearly $42 million -- more on a by-need, matchup basis.Nelson is already doing many things differently from what his players have been used to as he begins his second stint coaching the Warriors. They have missed the playoffs in 12 straight seasons since Nellie last took this team to the postseason in 1994 during his initial tenure in Oakland.Nelson, hired in a surprise move Aug. 30 to replace Mike Montgomery, is known for using four-guard lineups with an undersized center."That's great. I'm looking forward to it," Murphy said. "I've seen the way he uses big guys who can shoot. I'm excited to play for him. Playing against centers and more physical guys, that means centers also will be covering me, which is what we're looking for. I don't think there are any centers who can cover me. I'll have to do my best on defense. I think it's going to be really good."Murphy has averaged a double-double in scoring and rebounding in three of his previous four seasons and ranked sixth in the league at 10 rebounds per game last season. He scored 14 points per game and made 78.7 percent of his free throws, a statistic that goes a long way with Nelson considering the coach knows how many close games Golden State lost at the line in the recent past."He's already shown me what I wanted to see -- him buying into playing center," Nelson said of Murphy. "If he's able to play some Five, it would really help in my scheme of things."Nelson has made it clear he expects more than just Murphy to carry the rebounding load, calling for every player to improve his game and make adjustments to a new style of play.He wants these men thin, and asked players to show up for training camp five pounds lighter."To run, everybody has to be in great shape," Murphy said. "You want to be in shape and you want to be lean and skinny. I'm sure as the season progresses and training camp progresses there will be adjustments I have to make."Nelson is even demanding better free-throw shooting from stars Baron Davis and Jason Richardson if they want to be on the floor in crunch time -- and hasn't hidden the fact he wants Davis to lose a few pounds from his 6-3 frame.Foyle, beginning his 10th NBA season after the Warriors selected him with the eighth overall pick in the 1997 draft, averaged 4.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in 77 games last season and doesn't plan to sit on the bench without first doing his best to change Nelson's mind."Adonal is a wonderful person," Nelson said. "Certain nights he will play against the bigger centers and certain nights he won't play as much."For Foyle, already hearing that Nelson expects him to assume a lesser role is disappointing. But the 6-10 center is down to 268 pounds from his playing weight of 277 last year and would like to be around 260 when the season tips off."What are you going to do? Part of the deal is you go along with the philosophy and you try to force the matter a little bit in terms of your play and make yourself more open to playing different positions and doing different things," Foyle said. "My job is to get into the best shape I can possibly get in and to be ready to show all the different dimensions of my game so he can see the cost of not playing me."</div>LinkHe's arleady making Golden State into the shape of his Dallas team. Moving Murphy is a good move in my opinion. Gives more time to Ike Diogu and Mickael Pietrus for that matter. I bet Pietrus gets a few minutes at power foward throughout the season. They have the tools to be a playoff contender and hopefully Davis and company buy in. Looks like Foyle and Murphy have. You got to make sacrifices for the betterment of the team. I think this lineup will be used plenty this seasonC-MurphyF-DioguF-PietrusG-RichardsonG-DavisReally reminds me of C-DirkF-NajeraF-FinleyG-Van ExelG-NashMy personal opinion is that they will be better, but still not good enough to make the playoffs. Maybe they'll suprise us.
Re: Murphy switching to center in Warriors' new offense This is a good move. Get Diogu in there and get him going. This team is built to score, playing Adonal Foyle is a waste in my opinion. Maybe Murphy won't be chucking up so many perimeter shots now, I liked him better 2 years ago when he was playing tough inside.
Re: Murphy switching to center in Warriors' new offense This is going to be very interesting, I can't wait to see how this group does. Murphy/Diogu is dangerous scoring power and bringing guys like Beidrins, O'Bryant, and worthless Foye will be a solid backup frontline. I dislike Dunleavy, but having him off the bench is solid, plus I Monta Ellis is going to have a good year. Warriors basketball may not produce a whole lot of wins right away, but it will be fun to watch.
Re: Murphy switching to center in Warriors' new offense There will be absoultely no defense played. I guaruntee either them or the Sonics lead the league in points allowed. I think it'll be a great game when they play the Suns. Nothing but up and down offense. Anyways, I really think Pietrus, Ellis, and Diogu will thrive in the offense this season. Like Celticballa said, I really don't like Dunleavy either. To me, he really just doesn't fit well on this team. I think it'd be better if they started Pietrus at the 3.
Re: Murphy switching to center in Warriors' new offense Biedrins, Dunleavy, Ellis, Pietrus, Murphy, Diogu will all be in and out of the starting lineup this year. Diogu, Ellis, and Bierdins is the best fit with J-Rich and Davis though, and Nellie will notice.
Re: Murphy switching to center in Warriors' new offense Diogu is going to be something in this league. He had an amazing game against the Pistons last year where I saw the potential for a good post presence in the future. I like the move. Troy is a physical guy and a great rebounder. I think it is an improvement.
Re: Murphy switching to center in Warriors' new offense thats not gonna make us a very defensive team (we werent anyways) but I still like the move.only thing I dont like is Foyle, he gets paid alot and dosent score more than 6PPG but at least he blocks well...id like to see the warriors trade him. same thing with Dunleavy
Re: Murphy switching to center in Warriors' new offense Dunleavy is gonig to thrive playing Nellie ball. No coach before has used him as a point forward, who gives damn if he's slow, he's bigger than the other points and faster than the average PF. Foyle isn't going anywhere sadly, but with a new coach you need to give players chances IMO
Re: Murphy switching to center in Warriors' new offense <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CABANGBANG @ Oct 4 2006, 04:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Dunleavy is gonig to thrive playing Nellie ball. No coach before has used him as a point forward, who gives damn if he's slow, he's bigger than the other points and faster than the average PF. Foyle isn't going anywhere sadly, but with a new coach you need to give players chances IMO</div>He won't be gaured by point guards, just merely initiating the offense. He'll still gaurd small fowards and be gaured by small fowards. Davis and Richardson will still be playing the guard positions on the court at the same time.
Re: Murphy switching to center in Warriors' new offense He will intiate the offense, but who are you going to have guarding Dunleavy? A PF, that's what a point forward is. You go small with all your other positions so that your faster guys are at positions to harass the other teams.
Re: Murphy switching to center in Warriors' new offense Yeah, Patrick O'Bryant wont get too many minutes, and I doubt they want to start Adonal Foyle again at the 5. If Mehmet Okur can play Center, than Troy will do fine. Troy is a good rebounder, and he will stretch out defenses with his range.
Re: Murphy switching to center in Warriors' new offense <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CABANGBANG @ Oct 4 2006, 07:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>He will intiate the offense, but who are you going to have guarding Dunleavy? A PF, that's what a point forward is. You go small with all your other positions so that your faster guys are at positions to harass the other teams.</div>A point forward does not only mean that the guy is playing point guard or power forward. All a point forward means, is that Dunleavy will be sharing responsibilities as a ballhandler, much like Lebron James does in Cleveland. It can a 3 or a 4 bringing the ball up. In Orlando when he's actually on the floor, Grant hill is called a point forward, and he is hardly ever guarded by point guards or power forwards, unless they ran a pick and the defenders switched. With how Nelson is setting up this team, he is wanting to have players everywhere that can dribble, much like the Mavericks. So just about whoever comes down with the rebound, unless its Diogu or Foyal or someone like that who can't dribble, will just turn around and take the ball up court instead of the point guard going and getting the ball. The guards will just shoot down court, while Dunleavy and these guys will turn around and push the ball to try to score quickly in transition.
Re: Murphy switching to center in Warriors' new offense Warriors are getting worse, and worse every year, trade Diddy and J-Rich for like a real big man like pau gasol or Dwight Howard gosh.
Re: Murphy switching to center in Warriors' new offense <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DWade03 @ Oct 7 2006, 04:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Warriors are getting worse, and worse every year, trade Diddy and J-Rich for like a real big man like pau gasol or Dwight Howard gosh.</div> :HAHAHA: :HAHAHA: :HAHAHA: Real smart logic there buddy, we got 2 bigs that can put up 20 if needed in Murphy and Diogu and we are on the rise. If you think that J-Rich and Baron would even go for Gasol anyway.....
